“He’s what we need for the national team.”

Among the players immortalized at the 3rd World Championship in 1970, Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade, better known as Tostan, has once again taken a firm stand against Neymar and all the controversies surrounding him. The former player understands that the current situation of Santos’ number 10 reveals a technical and physical decline that could keep him out of the 2026 World Cup.

Tostan mused on the possibility of Carlo Ancelotti calling up a striker rather than the Selecao’s absence, making Neymar’s need more limited. To defend his point of view, he compared the number 10’s conditioning to that of other veterans of Brazilian football.

“If Neymar doesn’t change, Ancelotti won’t call him up even if he plays every game. The way he plays, the Selecao don’t need him, it’s him who needs the Selecao. When I was 33 years old, He looks like an older veteran on the field, unlike a lot of other players who are older than him.”

“In the 0-0 draw between Cruzeiro and Fluminense, goalkeeper Fabio (45 years old) and defender Thiago Silva (41 years old) were once again the highlights of the match. influenza. Fabio remains agile and accurate. Thiago Silva positions himself very well, predicts his movements and disarms his opponents without touching them. There’s the Hulk…” Tostan wrote.

Neymar and modern soccer

The former Selecao player understands that part of the depressing end to the star’s career is also related to the demands of the past decade in the sport. Tostan believes that in a game characterized by intensity and mobility, attackers have played in a limited manner, not participating effectively in marking. In his view, it would be at odds with modern times.

“In modern football, even a player with great talent cannot play in tight spaces in his position. He just waits for the ball at his feet and does not participate in marking. This has been the case with Neymar for many years. He has not kept up with the changes of the last 10 years.”

As a solution, he suggested: “You need to improve your physical condition and behavior. As Andre said.” Kufori“His time at Santos so far has been characterized by his absence even during play.”

“Today, athletes have more chances to build a long and successful career. In addition to technical resources and better physical preparation, they need the drive, joy and ambition to surpass themselves. To play better every day. This also applies to aging,” he concluded.

Ancelotti seeks better physical shape

Tostan’s assessment echoes a recent statement made by Brazilian national team manager Carlo Ancelotti to Spanish newspaper As. The Italians recognized the talent of their number 10, but expressed concerns about the attacker’s fitness and injury history.

“No one doubts his talent, but he has struggled with injuries recently. He has already returned to playing, but he needs to get back in top shape, which is normal in today’s football, which is very physically demanding and intense.”

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